The hours passed, Gideon figured he had just an hour or two before dawn broke and he’d be relieved by the next unlucky cadet. At least when he was relieved, he could get something to eat and then get some sleep before he had to do it all over again. With any luck, he’d either be reassigned to another part of the village, or they’d be invaded, or both!
He stopped outside the gatehouse once more and gazed north. A brilliant shade of red lit up the northern sky. Gideon froze, this was no star nor the sun. This was the magical signal he’d been waiting for. His heart started pumping as excitement cascaded over him. The shuttering sound of the gate-crashing behind him brought him back to the moment.
A sharp whistle from above drew his attention. It was the Nighthawk; he gave him a curt nod, and the hooded man pointed towards the light. Gideon got the hint, get to work, or there’d be hell to pay. Besides isn’t this the moment you’ve been pining for?
Gideon lifted his palm to the sky, stood there for a moment while he focused on the intent of the magic he was about to perform. He willed the mana from his body and a moment later a blinding pillar of green shot into the air. It accompanied the many other signals now filling the night sky, as he released the magic and shook off the momentary wave of fatigue the reality of the situation hit him. The signal had come from the north; the signal was sent from Kallen.
G ideon bounded down the path that led straight to the center of town, from there, he would be able to meet the defense at the northern border. On his left and right the fading imprints of the green signals where fading. Not all who answered the call would come. Naturally, some had to stay back as the second defense, but he wanted to be where the action was. He wanted to be the hero.
He ran fast despite being clad in armor. Those pointless parade sessions at the Academy now made a lot more sense. He could hear the clamoring of boots on stone cobbles some yards ahead of him and the clashing of swords further off, and he realized the fighting must already be in full swing. As he ran past the Thornpine, an unearthly shriek pierced the night causing him to skitter to a halt. His heart was suddenly pumping hard in his ears, and some buried instinct prevented him from continuing. Gideon stood there, cold sweat dripping down his face. Another scream rang out, this one clearly from a man. The agony lifted whatever spell he was under; he gave himself a shake as another scream spilled out into the night air. Followed by another and another. A second blinding flash of red briefly lit up the night sky but was instantly darkened as a cry of terror rent the night. Wide-eyed Gideon lifted his palm to the sky and sent out his plea for help. Shaking in fear, he took one step followed by another.
Gideon drew his sword slowly and silently as he neared the northern border. The scene before him was grizzly, the white cobbles of the path had been painted red with blood. Each step gave the sticky slurping noise like walking through a thin mud. The fire that burned in the braziers gave a distorted sight to the mangled, twisted bodies of the night watch. In shock he let his sword fall to the ground, he looked this way and that seeing bodies littering the ground everywhere. Three bodies lay flat face down on the grass to his right, a couple where slumped agents the low stone wall that spread the length of the border. If not for the blood and gore pouring out of their middles he almost could imagine that they were just passed out from a night of drinking. The rest of the bodies lay in a heap directly in front of him like a grotesque pile of crumpled laundry.
Gideon picked up his sword from the pool of blood, the sticky stuff leaving its mark on his hands. He paced the scene glancing around for any who might yet be alive. Slowly he circled the bodies, his ears pricked for any slight sound, eyes narrowed searching the shadows for the creature that did this. Waiting for the demon to come for one last victim. As he rounded the mound of bodies, he stepped lightly around the parts of mangled flesh that littered the ground. He paused a moment as he tried to hold in his stomach. When a hand shot out from under the mound and fastened itself around his ankle.
Gideon screamed in horror as he tried to leap back, instead of falling into the gore behind him. Gideon raised his sword to stab whatever abomination might have held on to him as the grizzled face of Kallen appeared at his feet. Gideon sat there petrified as the old knight used him to pull himself out from under the pile. His body was mangled and cut; blood poured out of gashes that cut through his armor. When Kallen was more or less at the same level as Gideon, he looked meaningfully at him.
“Please Gideon, you must heal me.” Kallen choked, and blood dribbled down his lips.
Gideon knew he had to do something, but he had never healed anyone before. He could see the pleading look in the old knight’s eyes, masking his panic, but only barely. Gideon placed his hand over Kallen’s check, where the majority of the blood was pouring from. It quickly soaked through his glove as he focused on summing all his mana. He willed himself to heal, focusing on the intent. Moments passed, and nothing happened. He took a breath and closed his eyes, trying to pry the magic out of him. Focusing on mending, healing, stopping the blood from flowing out the wounds. Putting everything into one thought Heal. A warmth emitted from his palm, he opened his eyes to see a pale blue glow encircling his hand.
Kallen’s face relaxed, his gaze no longer held the anger, confusion, and sorrow of a man looking upon death's door. His chocking labored breathing evened out becoming a labored wheeze.
“Thank you.” He whispered.
The glow faded, and Gideon had to will himself not to faint. The world seemed to darken around him, and a cold tingling sensation played over his face. Through the tunnel of his vision, he saw Kallen struggling to raise up off the ground. Gideon’s sword gripped in his hand. Gideon tried to speak, but as he opened his mouth, a sharp pain pricked his neck stealing the words before he could form them. The brilliant pain sent him over the edge as everything faded to black.
Chapter 6 From the Pit Of Despair
D arkness tormented Gideon as he fell deep inside the abyss that was his mind. In this comatose state, he was haunted by visions of dark hulking things with claws and fangs. Of red piercing eyes that would gaze out from the shadows and try as he might, he could never escape their penetrating stare. Some of these apparitions walked on two legs others on four. Some slithered, and some came at him from the sky. Where ever he went they found him and spoke to him. Telling him to embrace death and escape what was to come. Then he’d have visions of the world burning around him. Towering buildings and structures the like he had never seen before tumbling over as people ran screaming for cover. This image would shift, and he’d see his home a toppled ruin and the bloody figures of those he loved. The creatures clawed and pulled at him, enticing him further into the miasma that was his mind.
It was a long time or perhaps no time at all when sensation began to return to him. Pain pulled at the dark tendrils of his thoughts returning him to the world of the living. During this time of slipping in and out of consciousness, he was only vaguely aware of people touching him and speaking to him. At one point he was aware enough to hear someone crying, but the blackness pulled back at him and having neither the strength nor the will to fight it he succumbed to its embrace.
When at last he was able to open his eyes the world around him was an unfocused blur. He laid there waiting for everything to come into focus. Slowly as the objects around him materialized into recognizable shapes, their color and texture revealed to him where he was. Surrounding him was the grey stone walls and white screened off sections of the infirmity. This low stone building sat adjacent to the barracks and housed the sick and injured. Those who were beyond the skill of the healers and alchemists,
Is that why I’m here? Am I sick? He thought to himself.
He forced himself to think back, the hazy image of iron clad bodies came to him. Then the dark shadow of some grotesque thing came to him, and he shuddered and thought no more about it. A feeling of unease and grief lay hard on his chest, and he busied himself with searching out his surroundings to push the thoughts and f
eelings as far out of his mind as possible.
Glancing to his left, he spied a small table with a jug and a cup atop a silver platter. Condensation dripped down the pitcher. The jug held his attention for some time until he was able to tear away his eyes from the dribble of liquid sliding down its side and was able to look beyond the table. In a chair that was pushed next to the wall sat a hunched figure clearly asleep. A few moments later Gideon realized he was looking at his brother.
Levi’s ordinarily tidy hair was lank with grease, and he had several days growth on his typically shaven face. A soft snore was escaping his open mouth with every breath, and a small dribble of drool had slid its way down his chin and onto his red and gold tunic. The scene shocked and warmed Gideon to see his brother in this disheveled state, who clearly was so exhausted from his vigil that he had fallen asleep.
Gideon opened his mouth to speak, and was momentarily panicked when no words came out. He tried again, and this time he was able to make a croaking sound as his throat cracked and his mouth was filled with the tang of blood. His coughing and choking woke Levi. With a screech from the chair, Levi was standing over Gideon looking panicked.
“I’m here.” Was all Levi could manage to say, as Gideon’s coughing continued, Slowly Gideon was able to gestor to the jug. Levi understood and poured the water into the wooden cup. Then haphazardly attempted to drown Gideon with the water, then after several minutes of sputtering and coughing Gideon was able to get down some of the water without dying. As his brother had all but drenched him in it.
“Levi.” He said
“I’m here Gideon.”
“Levi?”
Levi leaned closer, “Yes brother I am here.” He said with a panicked look on his face.
“Levi, you look like shit,” Gideon said with the smallest hint of a smile. Levi for his part was dumbstruck. After a second his eyes narrowed, and he said,
“For someone who has spent the better part of a week on their death bed, you don’t look much better.”
Gideon smiled, “But at least I have an excuse, what would poor old nana say if she could see you now?”
“Nothing because she would be too busy fussing over you.” They both laughed at this, which launched Gideon into another coughing fit.
Levi sobered, “Seriously though; you had us worried. We thought that you weren’t going to make it. Father and Katrina will be glad that you pulled through. Whatever attacked nearly got the better of you.”
Gideon was silent for a while steeling his nerves before he asked, “Did Kallen survive?”
Levi took an equally long time to respond, choosing his words carefully he said,
“No, whatever attacked you went after Kallen before the rest of the guards could get there. He died not long after we found you. What all do you remember about the attack?”
“Not a lot, I remember I was trying to heal Kallen. I remember the bodies of the other guards and the blood, most of all I remember the blood. Then the look of horror on Kallen’s face when whatever it was returned to attack the second time. I remember the smell of gore and the pain.” Gideon finished, he was silent for a time, his memories returning to him in sharp resolution. Levi saw his distress and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Finally, Gideon asked, “Did the watch kill the beast?”
Levi shook his head. “No, it was gone before they arrived. Kallen was still alive at that time, and he told them what it was, or rather what he thought it was, but Gideon, the man, was delirious with pain, so we believe he didn’t really know what he was talking about.”
“How do you know he was wrong? Kallen was a great knight; he wasn’t one to miss the facts even if he was on the brink of death!” Gideon snapped.
“I know brother,” Levi soothed, “but he spoke of demons. We think that the fear of death confused him. Even the greatest of warriors fall victim to it… Anyways we couldn’t even follow the creature whatever it was. You were bleeding out, the watch used their combined magic to still the bleeding, but you were still in pretty bad shape; it took the healers and the skills of all the alchemists to keep you alive.”
“Why did it take so long? I’ve never known the healers not to be able to heal some lacerations. What went wrong?”
Levi wouldn’t meet his eyes. A creeping dread prickled up the back of Gideon’s neck. Levi took in a breath then said,
“Your body was more or less mended by the end of the day, but your mind was lost. Broken is how they put it. They didn’t even know if you would ever wake up. Whatever attacked you didn’t just damage your body, it damaged your spirit. It severed the link to your Mana, the life force of your body. They couldn’t see your aura when they brought you; it was as if you were already dead. Then they said… Gideon, they said you might never be able to summon magic again. Whatever attacked you drained so much of your life mana away, that you may never fully recover.”
A cold numbness fell over Gideon as his brother spoke. Once again he could see the red eyes and hear the voices taunting him.
Levi was still speaking, telling Gideon that everything would be alright and that the family would take care of him, but would anything be okay? If he never recovered, how would he continue at the Academy? How would he be able to live in a world that depended on magic? What would his life be worth if everything he knew was no longer?
After a while Levi left his brother, promising that someone would be back to check on him soon. The hours crept by, slowly turning day to night and the darkness engulfed the room and eased Gideon into the cold arms of depression. Part of him was now gone forever, and he knew that nothing would be the same again.
G ideon had another bout with death that night. He stopped breathing in his sleep, and if it weren’t for Katrina’s watchfulness, he would have died.
The following day the alchemist that was in charge of him told him that he had an infection in his lungs. The remedy for this was cup after cup of vile tasting broth that bubbled and steamed as he chocked it down. The following week found him burning with fever. So much that he had to be sponged down with chilled water every other hour and more vile mixture was forced down his throat. His condition baffled both the healers and the alchemist (both who blamed his situation on the other.) His body looked fine from the outside apart from the fever and sweat that drenched his body. Yet his strength did not return to him. He was unable to support his own weight, and so he spent his time propped up on pillows pretending not to notice the way his family looked at him.
Levi came to visit every other day, spending hours at a time talking or reading to Gideon. Sometimes when the mood took him, they would play chess, but mostly they just talked. Levi Gideon observed was looking horrible and when asked why Levi just shrugged it off.
“Can’t bore you with my troubles brother. We’ve got to get you back to health.”
Gideon gave his brother a droll stair but didn’t say anything. Really did everyone really think that he was so fragile that he couldn’t be let in on what was going on around him?
It was Katrina who finally broke the silence on the issues plaguing their sibling. With more than just a little horror, Gideon listened to Katrina recount the six months he had been away and the changes that had taken over their father and Levi.
“You know we’ve never been close, but he was awful to me Gideon. Making comments here and there and then that time he just snapped. I’m not sure what to think of him anymore to tell you the truth.”
Gideon grunted, he wasn’t sure what to make of his brother's actions. Regardless of the reasons, this was not the Levi he knew.
Katrina continued, “It’s a little better now that your back, but with your attack, he’s slipped back into not eating with or talking to anyone again, except you of course.” Katrina laughed, “You’re the glue that keeps us together.”
Gideon frowned at that. He didn’t like the idea that his family couldn’t function without him and it depressed him, even more, to think that his condition was causing so
much trouble for them.
“Father is trying to get a master healer to come to Thornpine and look at you, but it’s been rather difficult with Evenstar being besieged with goblins and kobolds.”
“What do you mean besieged? When I left they were just starting to migrate north?” Gideon said.
Katrina bit her lip, “Don’t worry about it. Uncle Udda has everything under control. He’s even sent us reinforcements to make up for our losses. Everything’s fine I promise.”
Gideon didn’t believe her. She wouldn’t meet his eyes when she said this and when he tried to continue the subject she cut him off saying that she needed to go train with the guards. (She had been helping the new recruits learn the ropes.) She waved to him as she left saying,
“I think father might drop by later today so try to rest up and look your best.”
Gideon groaned inside; he dreaded the visit. His father had only seen him once since he had woken up, but it hadn’t been a pleasant visit. He kept blaming himself; saying that he should never have encouraged Gideon to become a warrior. The whole visit had depressed Gideon.
With that unhappy thought, he drifted off to sleep. When he awoke, he saw his father sitting in the chair next to his bed. He looked up at him as he struggled to sit up. His father noticing got up and made to help him.
“I can do it myself,” Gideon said as he shoved his pillow behind his back.
“I’m sorry, I know you can. I just wanted to help.” His father said a little meekly. “I know you’ve been getting better. Can’t wait to see you up and about.”
“Yep, I’m sure it will be great. Not that I will be able to do much, but at least I’ll be able to leave this room.” Gideon said as he starred at hands.
Adam got up, placed a gentle hand on Gideon’s should, “Well I will come and see you again soon.”
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